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Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day, occurs annually in October and is an initiative designed to promote education, awareness and access to care for women needing post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. This was our third annual BRA Day at Dillard’s raising the awareness of reconstructive surgery options for all survivors. Once again our master of ceremonies, Deborah Duncan brought life and excitement to the event. Special presentation on “What Every Women Should Know” by Dr. Arlene Ricardo M.D., F.A.C.S. and a brief talk by Dr. Jennie Bennett founder of Reconstruction of a Survivor. Reconstruction of a survivor offers support groups and resources…

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Thank you to all for your support at this year’s 26th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Houston. The event was filled with high energy and the team representing Westside Surgical Hospital including its volunteers, its superheroes and its exhibition left a lasting mark on the occasion and helped spread awareness about our hospital’s operations and about the fight for breast care and awareness with a positive touch. Centered on this year’s superhero theme and in honor of heroes who have fought breast cancer in their own ways, Westside Surgical Hospital, and its superheroes in particular, was…

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Westside Surgical Hospital & Breast Center was proud to support the 2nd Annual Ulinzi Walk benefiting the Breast Cancer Initiative of East Africa on June 18, 2016. It was a beautiful morning full of hope, inspiration, warm embraces and a few tears. The 2nd Annual Ulinzi 5K Walk/Run was held at Eldridge Park in Sugarland.  The mission of BCIEA comes from the Swahili word “ulinzi”, which means “to protect, guard, watch over, save.” The Ulinzi Walk begun after Philippa Decuir, Founder and Director noticed a growing need for public breast health information, particularly for the people of East Africa. The…

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With summer’s arrival come many wonderful things like breaks in school, adventurous vacations, and lots of fun in the sun. However, for some, summer’s heat brings out something not so enjoyable—migraine headaches. While migraines can attack at any time, many sufferers find them more frequent during the summer due things like higher temperatures, barometric pressure flux, and more. So how exactly can one combat the painful symptoms of a migraine? To answer that question, it is important to distinguish what exactly a migraine is and what your triggers are. The definition of a migraine is “a headache [that] can cause…

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On Friday, June 10 Westside Surgical Hospital and Breast Center and the corporate office K+S Consulting hosted the 2016 Bleed for Houston – Blood Drive. The event was a great success, because of the donations and the help of the other volunteers, we were able to collect 34 pints of blood. Of course, the real winners are the patients in need of blood. As most of you know, each blood donation can help save up to three lives. This year’s Blood Drive was in honor of Jacob Munoz. Jacob was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a very rate and…

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How tennis players can maintain their strokes by staying injury-free From Grand Slam tournaments to recreational leagues, tennis players are feeling the strain after their matches. You might think that tennis elbow is the most likely injury for the serve-and-volley set — but it’s no match for more common afflictions. Sixty-seven percent of tennis-related injuries involve the lower extremities, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). The jarring nature of tennis, with its intermittent stops and starts, can be devastating on the hips, knees, feet and ankles. To keep tennis players on the court, the AAOS tosses up these…

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Tips from nurse anesthetists Moms and dads will naturally get anxious if their child needs a surgical procedure. That’s why the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists put together a guide for parents on how to ease their fears and make the process as easy as possible for the child. START STRONG • When parents remain calm, their little ones take the cue. The best way to reduce anxiety all around is to have a clear understanding of what to expect. • Talk to the surgeon, without your child present, to get all the information you need and your questions answered. • Find out…

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Some foods and herbal supplements may interfere with your medication. It’s only logical. Medication works because it causes some sort of reaction in your body. Herbal supplements and food do the same thing. And sometimes, the combination creates conflict that will cause medicine to lose its effectiveness. The American Heart Association (AHA) lists some common drug/food/herbal supplement interactions to avoid: If you take Coumadin (Warfarin), a blood thinner that many heart patients take to avoid dangerous clots Be careful about: Ginseng, touted as a means to boost the immune system, improve mood or increase concentration, and Vitamin E, also seen by many…

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A study raises questions as legalization of the drug becomes more common   Many supporters of marijuana legalization have cited the drug’s health benefits among the most important reasons for their support. Marijuana is often used to provide pain relief associated with chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and HIV. But now there is more to the debate. French researchers say they have found a possible link between marijuana use and cardiovascular complications in younger adults. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, examined 1,979 cannabis-related reports in a five-year period. Researchers identified 35 users who…

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HOUSTON, TEXAS, December 15, 2014 The long-awaited Breast Center and IVF lab opens next month at Westside Surgical Hospital. Patients will receive comprehensive breast and fertility care with the most advanced imaging and reconstructive surgery techniques available. The landmark center offers 3D mammograms, 3D ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsies and bone density testing, in addition to the robust reconstructive surgery program. “Westside Surgical Hospital has always had a special focus on breast health, but with this new center we will be able to care for women from diagnosis through treatment,” shares Dr. Jay Shenaq, plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is the…

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Joyce is a true survivor. 20 years before she came to Westside Surgical Hospital, she had already survived one bout with breast cancer following surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Then, shortly after a mammogram that had been clear, she found a lump. “The mammogram may have shifted the lump so I was able to find it on my own,” Joyce explains. Westside Surgical Hospital was featured on Fox 26 News at 9 with health reporter, Melissa Wilson. Hear more about Joyce, and her experience with Westside Surgical Hospital in the full interview:

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Dr. Sean Boutros has been a practicing plastic and reconstructive surgeon for approximately 10 years. He decided a career as a plastic surgeon was right for him because it allowed him to combine his passions for art and science. “Plastic surgery was, for me, the perfect blend of science, art and creativity,” Boutros said. “(It uses) the skills that I have and the things that I enjoy.” Now, working with general and breast health surgeons such as Dr. Jo Pollack, Boutros uses his artistic and surgical talents to help patients at Westside Surgical Hospital look great and feel good about…

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